Alessandro Volta, was an Italian physicist who was known for his pioneering work in electricity. Volta was born in Como and educated in the public schools there. By 1800 he had developed the so-called voltaic pile, a forerunner of the electric battery, which produced a steady stream of electricity. In honor of his work in the field of electricity, the electrical unit known as the volt was named in his honor. http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/volta.htm
Volta conducted some crazy experiments!
Volta had an interest in stimulating hearing with electricity after he had already invented the electric battery. In order to test one of his hypotheses, he connected batteries to two metal rods then inserted them in his ears. This took place in the year 1800 when not many people understood electricity well (even Volta!), which might explain why he would undertake such a potentially dangerous activity!
As he completed the electrical circuit running through his head he reported receiving "a 'jolt in the head' and then a sound 'a kind of crackling, jerking or bubbling as if some dough or thick stuff was boiling' "(Epstein:1989: 34) (www.powerhousemuseum.com/hsc/cochlear/history.htm). Although this was very uncomfortable, he learned some important things about hearing and electricity and repeated the experiment a few more times. We now know the hearing does involve electrical activity within the nervous system-- auditory signals are processed using extremely low voltage electricity that travels through neurons (nerve cells) leading toward then traveling inside the brain.
ALESSANDRO GIUSEPPE ANTONIO ANASTASIO VOLTA
born 1745- died 1827http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/volta.htm
Volta conducted some crazy experiments!
Volta had an interest in stimulating hearing with electricity after he had already invented the electric battery. In order to test one of his hypotheses, he connected batteries to two metal rods then inserted them in his ears. This took place in the year 1800 when not many people understood electricity well (even Volta!), which might explain why he would undertake such a potentially dangerous activity!
As he completed the electrical circuit running through his head he reported receiving "a 'jolt in the head' and then a sound 'a kind of crackling, jerking or bubbling as if some dough or thick stuff was boiling' "(Epstein:1989: 34) (www.powerhousemuseum.com/hsc/cochlear/history.htm). Although this was very uncomfortable, he learned some important things about hearing and electricity and repeated the experiment a few more times. We now know the hearing does involve electrical activity within the nervous system-- auditory signals are processed using extremely low voltage electricity that travels through neurons (nerve cells) leading toward then traveling inside the brain.